Language/Chadian-arabic/Grammar/Future-Tense
Hi Chadian Arabic learners! ๐
In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use the future tense in Chadian Arabic. The future tense is used to talk about actions that will happen in the future. It's a very important tense to communicate effectively in Chadian Arabic, so let's get started!
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Negation & How to Use Be.
Forming the Future Tense[edit | edit source]
To form the future tense, you need to use the particle "ra" before the present tense verb.
For example:
| Chadian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ุฑูุงููุญูุฉ ููุฌูููู | raayha nujuum | "I will go to the stars" |
| ุฑูุงููุญูููู ููููุนูุฏู | raayhiina naq3ad | "We will sit down" |
| ุฑูุงููุญูููู ููุดูุชูุฑููู | rayha hum yashteru | "They will buy" |
Note that the pronunciation of the particle "ra" varies depending on the verb it precedes. Sometimes it is pronounced "rai" or "rar" instead of "ra". A common mistake for non-native speakers is to forget to use the particle "ra".
Let's see some examples in context:
- Person 1: ุดูููุฑูุง ูููู ุฌูุงููููู ู ูุงุชูุงูุ (shukraan leek jaayiin mataay?) ("Thank you, when are you coming to my house?")
- Person 2: ุงููุง ุฑูุงููุญู ุบูุฏูุง (ana rayh ghadan) ("I am going tomorrow.")
- Person 1: ุนูู ูุฑูู ู ูุณูุชูููููุฑูุ (amru mustaneer?) ("Is Amru turning on the light?")
- Person 2: ููุนูู ูุ ุฑูุงููุญู ููุณููู (na3am, rayh hassi) ("Yes, he will turn it on.")
Using the Future Tense[edit | edit source]
1. To talk about future events
In Chadian Arabic, the future tense is primarily used to talk about events that will happen in the future. For example:
- ุฑูุงููุญูููู ุณููููุฑู ุจูููุฑูุง (raayhiin saheer bakra) ("We will wake up early tomorow")
- ููู ููุงุตูุฑู ุฑูุงููุญู ูููุงูุนูุจู ุจูุงููููุฑูุฉ (fi naasir rayh yila3ib bilkura) ("Nasir will play football")
- ุฑูุงููุญู ุชูุนูุทูููููุง ุงููููุนูุฏู (rayh tu3tina lwa3ad) ("She will give us the promise")
2. To make promises
The future tense is also used to make promises. If you want to promise someone something, you can use the future tense. For example:
- ุฑูุงููุญู ููุณูุงููุฑู ู ูุนูุงูู ููุงุฌูุฑู (raayh nusafir ma3ak fajr) ("I will travel with you next summer")
- ุฑูุงููุญูููู ููุฒูููุฑ ุงููู ูุฏูููููุฉ ุณููุงูู ูุฉู (raayhiina nazur almadiina silamatan) ("We will visit the city safely")
3. To express intention
The future tense can also be used to express intention. For example, you can say:
- ุฑูุงููุญู ุฃูุณูุชูููุฑู ููู ููุฐูู ุงููุจูููุฏู (raayh astaqir fii hadhih albald) ("I'm going to settle in this country")
- ุฑูุงููุญูููู ููุฃููููู ุจูุฑูููููู (raayhiina naakul burkuk) ("We intend to eat shrimps")
Exceptions[edit | edit source]
Sometimes, instead of using the future tense, Chadian Arabic speakers use the present tense to express the future. This is often done in informal spoken language, and it depends on the context.
For example:
- ุฑูุงููุญู ููุฌูุจูููููู (raayh yijibbali) ("He will bring me") can also be expressed as ููุฌูุจูููููู (yijibbali) ("He brings me"), depending on the context.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You now know how to form and use the future tense in Chadian Arabic. Don't forget to practice with native speakers on Polyglot Club. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Review this article for further explanation, examples and exercises.
Sources[edit | edit source]
Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: How to Use Have & Pronouns.